Computer fan noise

[lucy]

When I have my computer turned on for more than an hour, I noticed the noise level grew louder. The noise seems to come from the fan (power supply). Does this mean there is a problem with my power supply? The power supply is only 4 months old, so is the computer.

Lucy

[Kwazyace]

Lucy, what is the wattage on that power supply, and how many devices are connected? Also, are you using a 7200 RPM Hard Drive? (for noise reasons)

[psyklone]

when your system starts making that noise, go around to the back where the power supply fan is blowing and CAREFULLY stick something small but sturdy (pencils work great) through the grill to stop the fan blades for just a second. if the sound stops when the fan stops, there's your problem and you may as well start getting to work on getting that puppy ready for warranty repair ... best wishes.

[Dash]

Well, the PS or the Motherboard might have one of the great "features" that slow fans down when the system gets cooler. So what might be happening is that her system warms up gradually and the fans arent running at max speed for an hour or so, thats a possiblity, but wed only know if we knew what motherboard Lucy had...

[brandon184]

Sticking anything in the power supply fan to stop it, is *NOT* a wise idea. The only way you should be stopping the fan is turning the machine off.

Thats kind of like saying, "Make it so the wheels absolutely can't move on a car, but then try to accelerate at high speed."

- brandon184

[ram]

Stop!!! Go right now and get either a new fan or a new power supply,it will i promise go out once it starts making noise and then burn up your power supply and could do massive damage to your MB and components.I speak from
experiance here so please turn it off and get that fixed...

[Legoboy]

Lucy, we have to look at time based problems seeing as the noise doesn't manifest until after "about an hour." So what could it be? Well, the first time based problem most people will see is from heat. Materials get hot, they expand...simple. So a distinct possibilty is that something (i.e. a ribbon cable etc) is "expanding" into the blades of one of the fans (usually the CPU fan, which doesn't seem to be where your problem lies). Another problem that is connected to heat where fans are concerned is with the fan bearings. This aspect largely depends on the quality of your power supply. Low quality cheap supplies use cheap components, hence a fan that has no bearings at all. BUT, if the power supply is of reasonable quality (which most are now-a-days) then the fan will have bearings. These will obviously expand over time and can generate more noise the longer the PC is switched on.

If you could provide a little more info concerning the specification of the PC, I think you'll find one of us can help you further.

Legoboy

[phecky]

It might not even be the power supply fan. It's quite possble it might be the CPU fan. If you do it carefully, you can run your computer with the cover off and gently touch the CPU fan while it's running to see if the noise level goes down. Don't touch anything else and make sure your static free by touching the case first. OR......ask a computer friend or tech. with some experience in this area to do it for ya!

[alan]

if your computer is only 4 months old then take it back and get it checked as it is surely still under warranty
under no curcumstances take notice of those who tell you to poke things in the back of your machine. or touch things with the case off unless you know what you are doing and in most caes's would invalidate the warranty
jokeboy sorry legoboy a ribbon cable will not expand more than a few hundreds of a inch if atall so it wouldnt expand into the fan not ever.
lucy most of the people who post replys are quite knowledgable and after a while you will get to know who these people are,
no offence to the junior members and some members, but unless you are 100% sure of what you are saying dont say nothing atall bad advice can cost money
alan http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by alan (edited 02-05-2000).]

[This message has been edited by alan (edited 02-05-2000).]

[ram]

Phecky she said it seems to come from the power supply fan.Most Retail PC dealers use CHEAP power supplys thus CHEAP fans,the noise will get worse then one day there wont be a noise and thats because the **** fan isnt working anymore then the PS will heat up and poof !! voltage fluctuation sent to your MB can do real damage,lucy get it checked ASAP.
If its not the Power supply fan you need to have the bad fan replaced,heat and dust are PC killers....

[finger51]

psyklone forgot to mention the important point of standing in AT LEAST one inch of water while performing this procedure. It also helps if you have smeared chicken fat all over yourself and a poultice of mugwort around your neck and underarms.

[psyklone]

the reason i didn't say that is because that is a completely ridiculous idea. what i was suggesting is using a completely non-conductive appliance to stop a piece of plastic from spinning, an action that is not dangerous and stopping a power supply fan for only a second is not going to damage the power supply.

[finger51]

okay maybe not the mugwort but I stand by the chicken fat- 'works wonders

[lucy]

Thanks for all your suggestions. My PC is a Celeron 400, MB, ASUS P3bf, 64 Meg RAM, 5400 RPM hard disk. 1 CDROM, 1 hard disk and floppy drive is connecting to the PS. This is the 2nd Power supply. The first one died after 30 days.Power supply is 250Watts. The PC is mail ordered and is still under warranty. This power supply has a on/off switch. My vendor told me this is a better power supply than the first one(they can say anything they want!). I'll have a friend look at it. Thanks.

Lucy

Lucy

[Jingle]

Lucy,

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned the possibility that you have a power supply with a thermally-controlled fan. I have one in one of my computers and, depending on various factors, frequently behaves exactly as you describe. I like it because most of the time it's quiet. If your power supply was upgraded from the original defective unit, that may be part of the upgraded supply's features.

Jingles

[kwai]

dash did. maybe you should lay off the chicken fat.

[Jingle]

Not exactly; he was refering to something "slowing the fans down". Thermally-controlled power supply fans start at very low speed and increase speed in response to temperature ... the other way around.

Jingles

[wyvrn]

If you are not a techhead, dont open the case. You are inviting trouble, especially if it is under warranty. If it was out of warranty I would say go ahead because you are going to incur the cost of fixing it no matter what the situation is. Please dont listen to people who may give good ideas but do not take into account all variables involved, ie a warranty. Use that warranty for all it is worth !! Make them listen to you by calling them every day until you get what you want. Most manufacturers would rather replace a defective part than have an upset customer.

[kwai]

'"features" that slow fans down when the system gets cooler' = thermally controlled. not trying to be a dick or anything, though, just trying to give credit where its due. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[Legoboy]

>>sorry legoboy a ribbon cable will not expand more than a few hundreds of a inch if atall so it wouldnt expand into the fan not ever.<<

Alan,

This is indeed correct. I made the statement without wording it properly. What I meant was that heat can cause "settling" internally and the result could have been that a ribbon cable had got close enough to the CPU fan to just touch it. As for the subject of Junior members not posting advice, well, "Junior member" does not mean "amateur." It just means we haven't been around here very long :-) But I understand WHY you say that and I've taken note of it so I don't "put my foot in it" in the future.

Legoboy